Incurator



@L w. misco INCUBATOR 4 smmsmsheet 2 Filed June 8, 1920 4 Shams-Sheesh INGUBATOR Filed June MES.)

MUT/155555 /NVE/VTOR:

W G60-hy@ WT 6715@ NE Y? Patented dan. 26, i926.

UNiTtlil TATES GEORGE W. CISCO, OF HAWTHORNE, NEW JERSEY.

INOUBATR.

Application filed June S, ll. Serial 'lifo.'387,3`".

.To ZZ whom it may connor-n: v

y lie it known that li, Giro-non W. Cisco, a citizen of: the United States, residing at liiawthorne, in the county oi Passaic and State ot' New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in incubatore, whereof the tollowingis a specification, ret'- erenee being had to the accompanying d rawings.

'The invention relates 'to inenliators, and is directeiflto the attainment ot greater economy in floor space in incubator installations` ot large capacity with corresponding savino; ot material and more eltieient Conservation ot heat than has been heretofore practicable; greater unitormity in i'listrihutioi'r ot hear. to the nmnerous separate ineuhation chamor expemliture et time.

Other advantages obtainable through the inrent-io-n wili become apparent 'from the description which follows.

in the accompanying drawings, lil-ig.v l is a side elevation of an incubator strue irre conveniently embodying my invention.

Filo'. li is an'end elevation ot ithe saine Afrom the right oi Fig'. the iowei' portion lining' lirol-:en away so as to set. tortirmnore :ulvantageously eer-tain details of the construction ot the interior.

Fin: lll is a cross section throufrh one ot the iiutuliation chambers. taken indicated hy the line iii-Ill in Fig.

Fig. lV is a longitudinal sectional View ot the structure on a slightly reduced scale. taken as indieated hy the arrows lV-V in Fig. il.

Fie. V is a plan section of the same along the line V--V in Figs. Il and IV.

Fig. Vl is a View similar to Fig'. Hl, somewha t more diagi-ammatieally represented. showingr a slight. modification.

Fig. Vil is a sectional View through one ol' the iin-ulmtion chai'nliers' taken as indicated hy the line Vil-lill in Fig.' Il.

Fia. VIII.4 is adetail 'fragmentary plan, taken as indicated hy the line Vill--VllI in lig. lll, showingr one ol the devices by which the egg traysran he connected 0r discount-etui from the projecting means.

Fifi. lX is a plan View of one of the't 'aya by whieh the are supported.

"i is a. cross sectional View tl'nough one of the ineuloatlon chambers taken as 1ndieated hy the lme X-X nrFig. H; and

Fig. XI is a detail View showinoj a` gauge adapted to indicate the direction 1n which the eggs are turned in the trays.

liteterring first to Figs. U,- lV and V,

it will loe noted that. the structure, as therein represented, has at its base a. heating eomf plicity ot separate incubator chambers 4,-

these being;1 disposed in the present instance,

in superimposed relation and grouped lin see-4.

tions or staci-:s ot column form each comprisan equal number of subdivisions. vSaid sections are preferably arranged back to haelt as seen in Fig. II, so that each side of the structure presents the appearance ot Fig. I. The eliambered column sections or stacks are separated by a longitudinal eeutral passage 5, which communicates with the exterior through horizontal spaces or 0penings 6 between adjacent ineui'iation, elianfv hers. The passage 5 also con'nnunieates with the exterior through an opening 7 at its top, aid opening; being provided with a siidahle Cover 8, hy whieh the extent of free air ein culation throu, ing just described may he definitely eontrailed. Such 'free circulation through the structure prevents Cross heatinghetween the several ineuhation chamhers, so that they are,

as a consequence, thermally independent! of' ont?r another notwithstanding' varying' temperature conditions which may prei/'ail in them, for example, when eggs in different staeeso'f development are being incubated at time. v- Y"iiiie have herein shown an incubator strnetne comprising,r but two column seeions each side., it will be-oloyious that this umher may be increased indefinitely.

The ineuiiation chambers 4- are lconnected with the; 'iiffnting compartment 1 ley conduits or ducts 95 oh are syn'xn'ietrieally disposed within the sagre 5, as shown in Fig. IV. Such eonneei may he made individually as representeo` Vl, or the incubation chambers or corresponding levels in adje* cent column ser. ons may be supplied in Surmounting,

e the eomn'iuuieative ehannel-- 'Ita l Cil pairs according to the showing ot Fig. III, the latter 'method ot' separately supplying superposed chambers admitting of greater simplicity -ot construction. In order that the heated air may be unit'ormly distributed through the numerous incubation chambers7 or that the distribution ot' heat amongst the chambers by the air delivered to themfmay be equalized.heldiver ends of the conduits S) are so arranged as to draw from different levels in the heatingcompartment according to the height ot theinculnition chauibers which they respectively supply, thereby obviatiug the inequality ot drawing power which would otherwise obtain by virtue of the ditlerent lengths ot' .said conduits. As a turther precaution tor positively preventing robbing ot the lowcrmost of the. incnbation chambers on account'ot the comparative shortness ot their supply conduits, I prefer to supplement the heating compartment 1 with a longitudinal pocket l-ltl, which is ott'- set above the main portion dt said compartment and from the upper legion ot which these conduits are directly sulaplied. The heating compartment has do u :r11 preterably at both sides oL the struct it'. so that access may be had to the interior o permit replenishing the moisture pans' 12 with water from time to time. Fresh air enters the heating compartment l through openings 125 distributed at intervals along its side walls as shown in Fig. I. In order to guard against overheating. the. compartment l is provided with a flue conduit 14 which extends upwardly pre t'erably through the center of the structure, and discharges to the exterior. The escape ot the surplus heat is controlled by a damper 15. whose action governed auton'iatically by a thermostat mechanism lt, best seen in Fig. I\ rl`hc conduits fl terminate at their tops in upturned outlets 17 through which the heated air is discharged into the incubation 'cha|nbers.

Since the incubation chan'ibers, together with their various appurtenances are endet" counterparts ot one another` it will be tronvenient to confine attention tor the time .being to Figs. Ill, VII aml X, and to rel'er. to the constituent parts in theI singular. .Fi-(ilu these illustrations. it will be noted that the hot air supply outlet li'is located at a central point of the rear wall ofthe incubation chamber and in close proximitv to the top ot'tlic latter. liv providing discharge openings 1S near the bottom edges ot thc hinged doors 15), which serve'to close the chamber at the trout. the heated air delivered from the outlet 1T is compelled to llow downwardly through the egg tray designated at. Q0, toward said openings. thus determining detinilely a circulatmy course such that uniform local distribution is assured. The influx of the heating medium is governed by a damper 21 which is automatically controlled accord- ,ing to the temperature within the chamber by a Wafer thermostat 22 connected through a multiplying leverage system comprehensively indicated at 23 to the balance arm 24 of the damper. This leverage system is capable rof being adjusted so that the thermostat shall cut ott the supply of the heated air at any predetermined temperature, by means ot a regulating rod 25 which term1 nates at the exterior ofthe structure in a knurled manipulating head 26, and twhose inner end is screw threaded through a por tion of the thermostat supporting bracket 2T to engage the vertical arm of a spiriti' pressed bell crank lever 28 forming part said system.

As a means for augmenting the humidityv of the air locally according to the tem erature prevailing in the chamber, I prefer to employ a supplemental moisture pan 9.9. By this provision. the varying degrees ot humidity required during ditl'erent stages of` the incubation period are automatically obtained in accordance with local temperature without depending entirely upon the moisture charge initially supplied in the heating compartment 1 by the pans 12.

Each incubation chamber is also provided with a thermostat mechanism 30 which is similar to the one previously described, and serves in a like manneiytlirough leverage connections. tooperate a dial indicator 8L at the trout ot the chamber, so that the teml' perature may be read directly without the opening ot the door 1t) to inspect thermometers such as are ordinarily employed for this purpose.

The egg tray isslidably supported between guides i12-T32 attached in pairsto the sides ot" the chamber (so as to be capable ot being projectedtrom within by means ol piuions tllwll mounted upon a shat't Il land normallv1 engaging toothed racks 35i-tlf) secured to the bottom ot the tray pre t'erablyv near its side edges. as clearl)7 shown in Fig.

VII. 'I`he extent to which the tray may be projected yis limited by projections StL which are adapted to come, to a stop against the pinipnsilp ll'hen fully protruded. support of the travis transferred to cooperative rollers :iT-"ill". slee Fig. lll'. ln order that the tray may be disconnected from the proie-ting uiechanisiu. as is sonic times desirable -iu practice. l have provided means ha' ell'wtlng disengagement between the piuions and tbc raclis in the t'oriu ot shitting lercrs 2in' (Figs. v\'ll and Ylll). which are pivoted to brackets fifi. extending outwardl)v from the, side. wal-ls of the chamber and supplemented with pro'ita'tions between which the piuions areengaged. As illustrated in l `igsz 11A. and VU. a shaft 3l proaded l'or each series of horizontally aligned chambers. These shafts may be rotated by means of temete gear pinions .1li as above noted without interfering with projection of the others of the series.

Referring once more to Figs. IH and K, it will be noted that within the egg trav is mounted a cellular grid whichis pret'ei.'-

ablyY constructed ot-light metal. rlhe grid is slightly smaller in one dimension than the tray,'so that it may be' shifted to ay limited extent therein sutlieient to roll the eggs through a halt turn while supported on the egg screen. Actuation ot the grid is accoraplishcd by a longitudinally shittable slide bar 4G, which has attached to it a bifurcatcd projection 4i? adapted to engage a pin removably secured in the grid, at its center. As in the case ot the shafts' 34 previously re- 't erred to, therel is a slide bar 46 'for each series ot aligned incubator chambers, so that the eggs may be turned simultaneously in each ot such sub-groupings ot' the incubator structure. In the course oi projecting the trays as hereinafter described, it will be .seen the pins 48 will readily slip from engagement with the bifurcations Ll? and as readily -again engage with the same when returned to norti'ial position in the chambers. For the time being, however, th projection of an egg tiiay disconnects Aits c; ".nningmeans `trom thc general egg-tur means 4G and renders the latter inctlccii apen the eggs in such tray. ,'fho end ot li ot the rods Attt (Figs. ll' and X), cated at .5() :for cooperatioi'; nallyA threaded sleeve 5l joute tation in a liearingQ extendi side, wall of the incilbator structure. To the 'protruding end ot the sleeve Iii is secured a handle o?, which, when turned in one direction or the. other, causes a. corresponding movement et the grids 45 in the egg trays. l-`or the purpose et recording the shittintls otl the trays, a gauge :'55 is associated with cach ot the handles 53. As best sccn in Figs. X and Xl. each ot' these gauges 55 comprises a pointer 56 which moves over a `raduatcd dial 5T. `lh'oiecting rearwardly from the pointer is a pin 5S which engages within an inclined slot 59 ol a weighted member (it) guided tor vertical sliding in the easing ot the gauge in accordata-c with the shitting ot the rod 4-6, bv virtue ot` a cord connection (il therewith. By means ot the gauges 55,

alled tor rothrough the the operator may, at a glance, ascertain in' which direction the handles are to be rotated for the next turning ot' the eggs without the necessity of actually inspecting the trays in the incubation chambers.

The doors 10 for the chambers it are also so arranged as to be operative in series in a manner which will be readily understood from Figs. I, ll and lll. As there shown, an actuating shat't ($5 is common to each of such series, and is provided with lever arms G6, which, through links (S7 are individually coordinated `with r siliently flexible connectors 68, attached to the doors. The ends of the sha-tts (t5 are bent to term crank handles (S9 which are normally held in the locked position shown in Fig.l II by hooks 70, so as to maintain the flexible connectors 68 under sutlicient pressure to hold the doors securely closed. The links G7 are connected in such manner as to be easily detached at one end in case it is desired to avoid the operation ot anyone ot the doors in the series` ily means ot the various provisionsset fortll herein. it will be seen that opening of the doors ot' the incubation chambers, and projection ot the trays l'or the purpose of airing the veggs may be speedily accomplished, and furthermore, when the eggs in any particular chamber are not to be disturbed, as is requisite at certain stages et incubation, the doors ot such chamber and also the tray therein, may be readily disconnected Jfrom the actuating means in thev cl a un l. An incubator comprising a easing having therein a vertica i @ries ot compartments including a heating compartment and a plurality ot incubation chambers, means in said heating con'xpmtment tor heating the air therein, and means tor delivering the heated air to the incubation chamb'ers and automatic: ll equalixing the distribution ot heat thereby` to theI chambers at ditierent heights.

i2. An incubator comprising a easing having therein a vert-ical series of compartments including a heating compartment and a plurality oi" incubation chambers, means in said heating compartment 'for heating the air therein. means tor delivering the heated air to the incubation chambers and automatically equalizing the distribution of heat thereby to the chambers at'y dit'terent heights, and means for by-l'iassing and dischargingr heated air from said heating compartment without admission to said iiuubation chambers.

il. .\n iucul toi" com rising'a casing liaring therein' a `vertifal series ot' compartments including a heating compartment and a plurality of incubation chambers, means iu said heating compartment Jfor heating the aii therein, with means for delivering the heated air to the incubation chambers and heating compartment and separate outlets' from the casing for the individual chambers.

l. An incubator comprising a casing having therein a vertical series of compartments including a heating compartment and a plurality o't` incubation chambers, with interspaces separating superposed incubation chambers and communicating with the exterior so as to permit free air circulation and prevent cross heating between the incubation chambers; means in said heating compartmeiit for heatii'ig the air therein; and means for delivering the heated air to the incubation chambers and automatically equalizing the distribution of heat thereby to the chambers at ditierent heights.

5. An incubator comprising a casing having therein a vertical series of compartments includingr a heating compartment and a plurality of incubation chambers, with interspaces separating superposed incubation chambers and communicating with the eXterior so as to permit free air circulation and prevent cross heating between the incubation chambers; means in said heating compartment for heating the air therein; and means tor delivering tlie'heated air to the incubation. chambers and automatically cqualizing the distribution of heat thereby to the chambers at diiiierent height-s comprising separate ducts from said heating compartment and separate outlets from the casing for the individual chambers.

(S tu incubator comprising a casing having` therein a heating compartment surmountcd by vertical series of incubation chan'ibers separated by an interveningr vertical air space, with interspaces separating superposed incubation chambers and communicating with `said vertical air space and with the exterior, so as to permit free. air circulation and prevent cross heating between the incubation chambers; means in said heating compartment for heating the air therein: and means tor delivering the heated air to the incubation chambers and automatically equalizing the distribution of heat thereinY to the chambers at ditierent heights, iucliulinj.; separate ducts from said heating compartment within the casing.

'i'. An incubator con'iprising a casing having therein vertical series ol compartments including` a heating compartment and a plurality ot' completely separated stacks of incubation chambers; means in said heating compartment t'or heating the air therein; means between said vertical stacks of compartments for distributing air from said miopia.

heating chamber to the compartments of each stack in parallel; and means for regulating the distribution of heated air between the stacks.

8. In an incubator, the combination of a heating compartment; a multiplicity of separate, relatively superimposed, incubation chambers surmounting said liei'iting conmartment, and conduits connecting the incubation chambers with tqhe heating compartment` said conduits drawing from such diiicrent levels in the heating compartment, according to the height of the respective incubation chambers which they supply, as to insure uniform distribution of the heat through the system.

t). An incubator structure comprising a number of composite sections each compie bending a multiplicity of separate incubation chambers, -said sections and adjacent incubation chambers in each being Separated b v interspaces communicating with each other and with the exterior so as to permit 'tree air circulation and prevent cross heating between the several incubator chambers,

10, An incubator structure comprising a number et composite sections each comprehending a multiplicity of separate incubation chambers, said sections and adjacent incubation chambers in each beineseparated by interspaces communicating with each other and with the'exterior so as to permit tree air circulation and prevent cross heating between the several incubator chambers; and means for controlling the extent of such free air circulation.

1l. An incubator structure comprising a number of composite sections, each comprehending a n'iultiplicity of separate supcrim-- posed incubation chambers, said sections be ing spaced from each other by a vertical passage communicating with the exterior through horizontal openings between adjacent, incubation chambers in said sections, so as to permit free air circulation and prevent cross heating between the incubation chambers.

12. In an incubator, the combination of a heating compartment; a number ot coniposite sections each comprehending a multiplicity of separate superimposed incubation chambers sui-mounting said heating compartment and spaced from cach other by a vertical passage having connnunication with the exterior; and conduits connecting the incubation chambers ii'ulividually with .said heating compartment, said conduits bcing disposed within said vertical passage and. by virtue of the i'ree air circulation therein, thermo insulated trom each other against. cross beating.

l). Au incubator comprising a heating compartment; a multi licity oi separate, relatively superimposed, incubation chambers surinounting said heating compartment; and conduits connecting the incuba- :ferent levels of the heating compartmentaceording to the height of the respective incubation chambers which they supply.

14. lin an incubator, the combination of an air heating compartment; a multiplicity oil separate, relatively superimposed, .incubation chambers surino'unting said compart ment, separately connected therewith and receiving llot air therefrom; means for a-u tomatically governing the temperature in the heating compartment; and individual means for automatically controlling the tenipcrature in each ot' the incubation chambers. 15. An incubator Icomprisingr a series of incubation chambers each with a slidable egg tray, meansv for simultaneously turning.;` the eggs in the several trays, and means for silnultaneously or selectively sliding said trays anti thcrebylrendering the egg-turning esta Fini-,y

means ineti'ective upon the 'eggs in the trays so slid.

16. An incubator comprising a series et incubation chambers each with. a slitlable egg tray, egg-turningl means for cach tray? means extending lengthwise et the series for simultaneously actuating said egg turning; means, and means for simultaneously or se lectively sliding' said trays anni thereby (lisconnec'ting their egg turning` ineens from said actuating means.

1 7. An incubator comprising a series ezt incubation chambers each with an tray slitlable in er out of the chamber transversely of the series, egg-turning means ftir cach tray, means extending and movable lengthwise of the series for simultaneously actuating said egg turning means from which the latter is disengageableby slitting of the trays as aforesaid, and means vfor l simultaneously or selectively sliding saitl trays transversely as aforesaid to project them from the incubation chambers,

In testimony whereof, have hereunto signed my name at city o l'aterscn7 lh ein this 29th day of May, i926.,

E0. Wl ClSCUn 

